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Explanation for:
Matthew
21
:
25
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Tertullian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897f85f2df2b809392261_Tertullian.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":3,"exegesis-text":"The baptism that John preached raised a fundamental question posed by the Lord to the Pharisees: was it a baptism from heaven or merely an earthly one? (Matthew 21:25). They struggled to respond decisively because they lacked understanding, rooted in their disbelief. Yet, we, regardless of the modesty of our faith and the consequent limitations of our understanding, can conclude that this baptism was indeed Divine—though not in its effectiveness, but in its divine appointment. We hold that John was sent by the Lord to undertake this mission, fundamentally human in nature. While he did not perform heavenly acts, he served matters of heaven (Matthew 11:10), specifically by proclaiming repentance, a call that is inherently human. The scribes and Pharisees, disinclined to accept this message, found no need for repentance. Since repentance is a characteristic of humanity, John's baptism must share this essence. If it had been heavenly, it would have conferred the Holy Spirit and granted forgiveness of sins. However, forgiveness and the Spirit can only be bestowed by God. The Lord Himself indicated that the Spirit would not be given until He ascended to the Father. Anything the Lord has not completed is certainly beyond the capacity of any minister. Furthermore, in the Acts of the Apostles, we observe that those baptized by John were not aware of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). Thus, what was not heavenly was indeed not heavenly. The prophetic aspect in John diminished after the complete outpouring of the Spirit in Christ, prompting John to send a message asking if Jesus was truly the One he had foretold (Matthew 11:3). John's baptism was therefore one of repentance (Acts 19:4), intended to pave the way for the anticipated remission of sins and sanctification found in Christ. By preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Luke 3:3), it served as a proclamation of future forgiveness. For where there is repentance, absolution follows, which embodies the act of preparing the way (Matthew 3:3). The one who prepares does not accomplish the task themselves but cares for the needs of another. John clarified that it is not his own works that are heavenly, but rather those of Christ: He who is earthly speaks from earthly experience; He who descends from above is above all (John 3:31). John also stated that he baptizes merely for repentance, but soon One would come who would baptize with the Spirit and fire (cf. Luke 3:16), indicating that genuine and steadfast faith is baptized in water for salvation, while fragile and doubtful faith is baptized with fire for condemnation."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He inquires of them, asking, 'Where did the baptism of John come from, was it from heaven or from men?' You may wonder how this pertains to the matter. It is highly significant. Had they responded 'From heaven,' He would have retorted, 'Then why did you not have faith in it?' For had they truly believed, they would not have posed the question, as John proclaimed of Him, 'He was not worthy to loosen the strap of His sandal' (Luke 3:16); and once more, 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world' (John 1:29); and also, 'This is the Son of God' (John 1:34); and again, 'He who comes from heaven is above all' (John 3:31); and yet again, 'His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor' (Matthew 3:12). Thus, if the Jews had accepted John’s testimony, there would be no confusion regarding the authority by which Christ operates. \\n\\nSee Matthew 21:23."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In response, He posed the question to them, \\"Where did John's baptism originate?\\" This inquiry compelled them to admit their disbelief in John. \\"Was it from heaven or from men?\\" They began to deliberate among themselves and concluded, \\"If we claim it was from heaven, He will challenge us, 'Why did you not believe him?' Yet if we assert it was from men, we fear the crowd.\\" They said, \\"If we acknowledge that it is from heaven,\\" but they neglected to add, \\"We are in awe of God.\\" Thus, their fear was of people rather than God."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The common saying goes, \\"A poor nail or wedge is best driven into a weak branch.\\" This resonates with the Russian proverb, \\"A wedge is driven out by another wedge.\\" The Lord, rather than directly dismissing the blasphemy of the tempters, presents them with a wise inquiry, allowing them to either remain silent or respond in a way that would reveal their own condemnation. Indeed, had they admitted that John's baptism was divine (which they had sensed on some level), the follow-up question would have been, \\"Why did you not receive baptism from John?\\" Conversely, if they were to claim that it was merely a human contrivance lacking any heavenly authority, they would have felt apprehensive about the crowds, as the people as a whole recognized John's baptism and regarded him as a prophet. Hence, the ungodly crowd responded with a semblance of humility, stating that they \\"did not know,\\" in order to navigate a potentially perilous question for themselves."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Aware of their persistent wickedness, the Lord posed a highly insightful question, not so that they could comprehend and respond, but to prevent them from further obstructing Him with their inquiries, for He instructed: Do not give what is holy to dogs (Matt. 7:6); they were expected to respect His own commands. Additionally, answering them directly would have served no purpose, as a will shrouded in darkness cannot perceive what is light. What benefit is there in presenting beauty to someone who cannot see? Spiritual blindness stems from a corrupted heart. Just as a blind person cannot appreciate the brilliance of light, so too does an immoral individual lack the capacity to grasp the secrets of godliness. Similarly, just as a skilled hunter prepares a trap for his prey by digging a pit and laying a snare, forcing the creature to either be ensnared or fall, the Lord laid a trap by posing a straightforward question to the chief priests and elders: if they acknowledged John as coming from heaven, He could challenge them, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if they claimed that John was merely a worldly figure, they risked inciting the people against them, akin to tumbling into a pit while attempting to escape danger. Thus, it was crucial for the Lord to guide the questioners, attempting to confound the tempter’s deceitful question with sound reasoning without unveiling the truth of His own divine mystery. The Lord handled a similar situation with the enemy, who misapplied scripture against Him without understanding its true meaning: it is written: He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6; Psalm 90:11-12). Instead of declaring, ‘This is not what the Scripture signifies,’ the Lord allowed the adversary to remain in ignorance while providing a clearer illustration, thereby restraining his arrogance and preserving the prophetic secret."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Jesus responded by posing a question to them, asking for the same consideration in return: by what authority do I carry out these acts? He referred to the baptism of John, questioning whether it was from God or merely from human origin. The implication of \\"from heaven\\" signifies divine origin, while \\"from man\\" suggests adherence to human command. Notably, He chose not to answer immediately to prevent any misunderstanding that He sought to elevate Himself, or that they might accuse Him of being in opposition to God. John the Baptist had spoken extensively about His significance, and so He challenged their understanding to confound them, as they were caught in their own reasoning. They deliberated among themselves, pondering, \\"If we say, ‘We speak from heaven,’ He will respond, ‘Why do you not believe him?’\\" Christ would press them further, asking why they did not accept John’s testimony, given that he spoke so highly and profoundly of Him. Their disbelief in John's words would indicate a misjudgment of him as a prophet, thus putting them in a position of rebuke for not recognizing the divine authority behind Jesus' actions."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"How does Christ, the embodiment of Divine Wisdom, respond to them? He ‘entraps the wise in their cunning.’ Just as He inquires about John, if they declare that ‘John’s message came from heaven,’ He will remind them of their resistance to God, as they failed to believe it; and if they claim it was ‘from men,’ He puts them at risk of the people's anger, since everyone revered John as a prophet. Through this, the Lord demonstrates that we should not respond to inquiries with premeditated malice. He Himself refrained from supplying an answer to the deceitful question posed by the Jews, even though He could have easily done so. From Christ's example, we learn the importance of humility. Although the Lord possessed the authority to articulate by what power He acted, He chose not to do so, in order to avoid any appearance of self-exaltation."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord posed a thought-provoking question, asking whether John’s baptism and his entire ministry originated from heaven, meaning from God, or stemmed from human beings, a product of human imagination. Was John truly sent by God, or was he just a man feigning to be a divine messenger, misleading the crowd? This inquiry was unavoidable, as it was fundamentally crucial. If the Sanhedrin had acknowledged John as a genuine prophet of God, they wouldn’t have needed to question Jesus regarding His identity as the Messiah and the authority behind His actions. John had previously declared, possibly in front of the same Sanhedrin members who were now sent to question Jesus, that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John referred to Jesus as the One who descended from above, who is greater than all, the Son of God, unworthy of even being His lowest servant.\\n\\nIn the Lord’s inquiry about John's baptism, the answer to the scribes’ question regarding His identity and authority was subtly but completely embedded within it. It was as if the Lord was communicating, \\"Evaluate for yourselves who I am. You are aware of John’s proclamation about Me, and indeed I am the One he identified; therefore, if you regard John as a prophet from God, you must also recognize who I am. Conversely, if you reject him, you will likely reject Me as well.\\" The scribes fully grasped the implications of the Lord’s remarks; they soon realized they were in a predicament that they had crafted for Jesus. The incarnate Wisdom of God, as Blessed Theophylact described, ensnared the wise men in their own cleverness. Had their exchange with the Lord been private, their deceitful tongues would have easily claimed they did not view John as a prophet and that his baptism was merely a human invention rather than a divine mandate. Yet, confronted with the multitude who held John in high regard during his life and continued to honor him after his martyrdom, they hesitated to publicly disclose their thoughts about John. Moments of silence likely ensued as they deliberated their response. They thought amongst themselves, \\"If we say it is from heaven, He will ask us why we did not believe him. Why do we refuse to accept his testimony concerning Him?\\""},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"I have a single question for you: the Lord does not respond directly to their malicious inquiry but instead skillfully ensnares those who sought to entrap Him in His words. They could have discerned the source of His authority, yet they chose ignorance, and through their inquiry regarding John the Baptist, the Lord guided them to acknowledge their own duplicity. The work of the Lord was a continuation of that of John, both stemming from the same divine Source, and He posed to them the question, \\"Where was John's baptism from?\\" Here lies the essence of John's entire ministry as God's messenger, prophet, teacher, and forerunner of the Lord. The focus of this inquiry concerns John's ministry: was it divinely ordained or merely human? Did John come from God, or was he simply a man pretending to be a divine messenger, misleading the people? The interrogators found themselves in a clear dilemma as they pondered, \\"Why then did you not believe him?\\" given that he had consistently and clearly testified about Jesus as the Messiah. \\"We fear the people,\\" they admitted, revealing the corruption of their hearts. They neglected God while catering to human opinions. They were afraid of John not for his own sake, but because of the people, and their unwillingness to accept belief in Jesus Christ was the root of all their troubles. To this, they replied, \\"We do not know,\\" an evident falsehood; they were well aware but refused to admit it. This is why the Lord refrained from answering their earlier inquiry about the authority behind His actions, for it was evident to both the questioners and everyone else from the very nature of His question about John's authority. When He said, \\"And I will not tell you,\\" the Lord did not imply ignorance but rather a refusal to disclose, for \\"the truth cannot speak unrighteously.\\""},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Was John's baptism of divine origin or merely human? Please respond. The Sanhedrin sent priests and Levites from the Pharisaical group to inquire about John's identity. John clarified that he was not the Messiah, but rather that the Messiah had already arrived, standing among them (John 1:26). After a period of fasting and temptation lasting forty days, Jesus approached the Jordan, where John was explaining himself to the Sanhedrin’s messengers. Upon seeing Jesus, John proclaimed, “Behold, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Sanhedrin was fully aware of all these events, and had they acknowledged Jesus’ inquiry by confirming that John was a prophet from God, they would have validated the truth of the divine messenger's testimony that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. The Sanhedrin was taken aback by Jesus’ question due to its unforeseen nature. Although they had likely prearranged their inquiries and potential responses, they were unprepared for such a profound question, requiring them to deliberate within the temple to formulate an answer. They thought, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will question, ‘Why did you not believe him when he testified to you about me, declaring me to be the Messiah, the Son of God? Then the people will proclaim Him King of Israel, inciting rebellion against Caesar, and the Romans will come to seize both our temple and our nation.’ No, this is not a suitable response!"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This act of betrayal ultimately returned to haunt them. Anticipating their malicious intent, Christ, in His divine wisdom, posed a question that required their response first: ‘Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?’ This inquiry immediately left the questioners perplexed, leading to a brief silence. ‘Respond to Me,’ the Savior urged, interrupting their hushed deliberations. Yet, they remained silent; they fully understood the implication of His question. There was no way to dismiss it as insignificant. John had publicly and clearly testified regarding Jesus, acknowledging Him not just as a prophet, but as the most eminent prophet and the Messiah, even before the most esteemed members of the Sanhedrin. Could they affirm or deny this testimony? It was evident that Christ was justified in seeking their response before He answered them. However, they found themselves unable, or more accurately, unwilling, to reply. He had placed them in a logical impasse. They could not affirm it was ‘from heaven’ since they had rejected that idea; yet they were too afraid to claim it was ‘from men,’ as their faith in John—evident even from the writings of Josephus Flavius—was so robust and unanimous that any public rejection would threaten their own safety."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"However, Christ, the embodiment of true Wisdom, ensnares the learned in their own deceit. He posed a question to them, saying, \\"If you ask Me, I will reveal the authority under which I perform these acts. From where did John's baptism originate: from heaven or from men? - Respond to Me.\\" The clear and sincere response to this inquiry held the key to the dilemma presented to the Lord by His adversaries. The ministry of John was intricately connected to that of Jesus Christ. The Lord's forerunner was divinely appointed to bear witness to the genuine light that illuminates every person—Christ (John 1:6-9), and he regarded himself merely as a friend of the Heavenly Bridegroom, unworthy to loosen the thong of His sandal (John 1:27; John 3:29-31). If John's calling was so exalted, then the calling and stature of the one whom John referred to as the one who comes from above, the heavenly and the greatest of all (John 3:31), was even more remarkable. Acknowledging John as God's messenger would have compelled his questioners to accept his testimony concerning Christ. However, to claim that John was simply a man, devoid of any divine significance, posed a significant risk for them in the eyes of the populace. The inquisitors found themselves in a precarious situation and began to deliberate amongst themselves, reasoning, “If we answer ‘from heaven,’ He will retort, ‘Why do you not accept him?’ On the other hand, if we say ‘from men,’ we fear the crowd, for they will certainly stone us since they recognize John as a prophet; indeed, everyone acknowledges John as a mighty prophet.”"},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"On Tuesday, when Jesus entered the temple to teach, His discussions with the crowd were disrupted by the chief priests and scribes. They approached Him as representatives of the Sanhedrin, similar to the delegation sent to John the Baptist (see John 1:19, etc.), questioning Him about the source of His authority—whether it was divine or merely human. They sought to understand who had granted Him this authority, inquiring as to His endorsement for such an office. In response, Jesus posed a question of His own: Was John a prophet or a fraud? Given that it was widely accepted that John was a prophet sent by God, Jesus' inquiry indirectly revealed the answer to their question about His own identity, as John had testified to Jesus as the Messiah. The leaders recognized this implication and therefore refrained from affirming it. They were also hesitant to deny it, knowing that doing so in front of the gathered crowd, who regarded John as a prophet, would carry significant risk. Thus, they replied, “We do not know.” Consequently, Jesus chose not to provide them with a straightforward answer to their inquiry."}]}
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